Smoking risk reduction/reduction to quit/cessation aid

ABSTRACT

This invention provides an aid for smokers to reduce the risk from and/or reduce to quit smoking cigarettes. It comprises a reduced-sized (by length and/or width) cigarette pack that contains reduced-size (by length and/or width) cigarettes. Unlike other smoking risk reduction/reduction to quit/cessation aids, smokers can use this invention as a means to cut down their per-cigarette consumption of the harmful ingredients in cigarettes. It can be used in addition to or independent of another risk reduction, reduction to quit, or smoking cessation method; it can also be used in studies of smoking reduction, reduction to quit, and cessation methods and be included in smoking reduction, reduction to quit, and cessation programs.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to a smoking cessation aid.More particularly, it comprises a smoking risk reduction/reduction toquit/cessation aid. To facilitate smoking risk reduction/reduction toquit/cessation, it provides a reduced-sized (by length and/or width)cigarette pack that contains reduced-size (by length and/or width)cigarettes.

Numerous smoking-related inventions have been provided in prior art. Forinstance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,667,688 provides for a cigarette packspecifically to accommodate a smoking accessory, however, not for thepurposes of the present invention. U.S. Pat. No. 7,614,402 provides anon-nicotine smoking cessation aid that simulates a cigarette. U.S. Pat.Nos. 5,893,371 and 5,880,164 provide non-nicotine cessation aids. Inaddition, prior patents also provide a variety of reduction/cessationmethods: for instance, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,028,693, 6,300,343, 5,965,567,,5,721,257, 5,662,920, 5,596,007, 5,593,684, 5,549,906, 5,362,496,5,135,753. U.S. Patents for various cigarette packs include U.S. Pat.Nos. 7,273,145, 6,736,262, 6,595,353, 5,996,784, 5,965,227, 5,564,563,5,366,077, 5,097,948, 4,961,496, 4,923,059, 4,836,366, 4,789,060,4,586,605, 4,508,218, 4,164,999, 4,046,252, 7,377,384, 6,681,927,5,586,648, 5,236,084, 5,178,272, 4,303,155, 3,976,194, D606244, D606243,D603092, D603091, D602631, D441497, and 4942961. The majority of thisart concerns cigarette pack construction. Some of the rest of thesepatents provide for coupons (U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,736,262, 6,681,927, and5,236,084). A number provide for attached matches (U.S. Pat. Nos.4,836,366, 4,164,999, and 4,046,252) or a disposable lighter (U.S. Pat.No. 3,976,194). U.S. Pat. No. 4,303,155 provides for an impermeablecuboid cigarette pack. U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,496 provides for a cigarettepack with a waste compartment. U.S. Pat. No. 7,377,384 provides for twoattached packs containing ten cigarettes each for the purposes of easytransport and retaining freshness. U.S. Pat. Nos. D606244, D606243,D603092, D603091, D602631, and D441497 provide for ornamental cigarettepack designs. This previous art suits the purposes the prior inventorsaddress, but they do not suit the purposes or the spirit of the presentinvention.

It is difficult to quit smoking. However, it is important that smokersquit since they face numerous health consequences from continuedsmoking, and their second hand smoke puts others at risk for developinghealth complications. Many smokers who are seriously motivated to quitand who seek out cessation programs or nicotine addiction counseling,take prescription medicines or use over the counter quit smoking aids,do not successfully quit the first time they set out to do so.

Smokers who are ultimately successful experience quitting as a process;along the way to quitting they oftentimes seek out ways to graduallyreduce their consumption. The present invention addresses the needs ofthis population of smokers. It provides a nicotine-delivery system thatsmokers can easily adapt to on the way to quitting since a reduced-sizepack containing reduced-size cigarettes would be similar to thepack/cigarettes smokers previously smoked, and would provide somenicotine. However, the invention provides for a reduced-size packcontaining reduced-size cigarettes that because of the reduced-sizewould deliver less nicotine per-cigarette than conventionalpacks/cigarettes delivered.

This invention would offer the large population of smokers who relapsein between attempts to quit a form of pack/cigarettes specificallyintended to aid reduction. At present, a smoker has no option but totake up this challenge while smoking conventional cigarettes. Manyresume their previous smoking levels as a result, which makes the riskreduction/reduction to quit process actually take longer than it mightif smokers had the benefit of this invention.

In addition to delivering less nicotine than conventional cigarettes,the form of this invention, its reduced-size, keeps reduction/quittingon the smoker's mind. It is important that smokers who relapse keepfocused on this goal and continue to work toward cessation; the presentinvention provides smokers with a means to do that.

Some smokers can reduce their nicotine consumption by decreasing thenumber of times they smoke during the day; others are not able to dothis as successfully, especially if they are early on in their reductionto quit process. This invention would make it possible for the former toreduce their consumption even further than they are able to dopresently; this invention would make it possible for the latter, though,to practice reduction while continuing, at first, to smoke lessthroughout the day by smoking a reduced-size cigarette at each of theirusual smoking times. Later on in their reduction to quit process, thislatter population could use this invention to work toward the lowerreduction levels of the former group.

Secondary populations that could benefit from this invention arecomprised of smokers who have always only smoked occasionally andsmokers who have effectively quit but who might smoke very infrequently.The present invention could provide these populations of smokers with analternative to the conventional packs/cigarettes currently available.Since these groups of smokers only smoke from time to time and do nothave a daily habit, this invention could offer them a satisfactory levelof nicotine per cigarette, a level that might be preferable to thatdelivered in conventional packs/cigarettes.

Some non-cigarette cessation aids also deliver nicotine; however not allsmokers who want to quit can tolerate these forms of nicotinereplacement, some cannot afford them, and others might choose not topursue them. Smokers in these populations might design their own riskreduction/reduction to quit plans. The current invention could aid themin their efforts. In addition to the fact that this invention deliversless nicotine per cigarette than conventional packs/cigarettes, thisinvention could further serve to motivate smoking riskreduction/reduction to quit because the per pack cost could be less thanthe cost of a conventional pack of cigarettes since the presentinvention provides for a reduced-size pack containing reduced-sizecigarettes.

At present, individual smokers might use a variety of methods to cutdown. They might attempt to cut down as a result of their doctor'sadvice or in the context of counseling. This invention provides an aidnot currently available that health care workers can recommend topatients/clients for whom gradual reduction/reduction to quit might bethe most reasonable cessation method and/or might be effectively coupledwith another reduction/cessation aid.

The number of smokers who choose to reduce cigarette consumption ontheir own, outside of a medical, counseling, or substance abusetreatment contexts, is unknown. Although it is well-known that a largepopulation of smokers who eventually quit used this method, riskreduction and reduction to quit practices have not been adequatelystudied. If this invention was included in studies as an option for riskreduction or reduction to quit, it could be compared with other methods.The results of such studies, then, could lead risk reduction/reductionto quit/cessation programs to incorporate reduced-size cigarette packscontaining reduced-size cigarettes and to adequately monitor thereduction practices of smokers who choose to use this invention togradually smoke less, and to eventually quit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides an aid for smokers to modify the risk from,reduce the risk from, and/or reduce to quit smoking cigarettes. Itcomprises a reduced-sized (by length and/or width) cigarette pack thatcontains reduced-size (by length and/or width) cigarettes. Unlike othersmoking risk reduction/reduction to quit/cessation aids, smokers can usethis invention as a means to cut down per-cigarette nicotineconsumption. It can be used in addition to or independent of anotherrisk reduction, reduction to quit, or smoking cessation method; it canalso be used in studies of smoking reduction, risk modification,reduction to quit, and cessation methods and be included in smokingreduction, risk modification, reduction to quit, and cessation programs.When compared to other smoking modification/reduction/cessation aids,this invention has the following advantages: it addresses the needs of apopulation of smokers in the process of reducing to quit smoking whoseneeds are not met by cessation aids currently available; it providesnicotine delivery in a way familiar to smokers, but yet delivers lessnicotine than conventional cigarettes; it provides an aid for that largenumber of smokers who practice smoking risk reduction/reduction toquit/cessation outside of medical, counseling, or substance abusetreatment programs; it provides for embodiments that can be studied andincorporated into smoking modification/cessation methods/programs,thereby making it possible to measure the effectiveness of smokingreduction practices for smokers in relapse periods and/or in the processof quitting. Finally, because this invention provides a cessation aidthat could cost less to consumers than conventional cigarettes (sinceconsumers are purchasing a reduced-size cigarette pack containingreduced-size cigarettes) and that might also cost less than some othercessation aids on the market, the lower cost of this invention couldenhance motivation for modification/reduction/cessation beyond thatprovided by the reduced level of nicotine it delivers.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

A principle object of the present invention is to provide a reduced-sizecigarette pack that contains reduced-size cigarettes for smokers to usein their efforts to reduce risk, reduce to quit, or to entirely quitsmoking cigarettes.

Another object is to provide an optional nicotine delivery method (tothose currently on the market) for health care workers/counselors torecommend to patient/clients for who risk reduction/reduction to quitmight be the most appropriate cessation method.

An additional object is to provide a cigarette pack that containsreduced-size cigarettes, which can be used in studies of smokingreduction/reduction to quit/cessation methods.

A second additional object is to provide a cigarette pack that containsreduced-size cigarettes that smokers motivated to decrease theirnicotine consumption can use during a relapse and/or in betweentreatment/cessation programs.

A further object is to provide a cigarette pack that containsreduced-size cigarettes, which can be used in conjunction with othercessation protocols and included in stop-smoking programs.

A still further object is to provide a cigarette pack that containsreduced-size cigarettes which is easy for consumers to use.

A second still further object is to provide a cigarette pack thatcontains reduced-size cigarettes which is economical to manufacture.

A third still further object is to provide a cigarette pack thatcontains reduced-size cigarettes, which can be easily adopted byconsumers motivated to decrease their consumption.

A fourth still further object is to provide a cigarette pack thatcontains reduced-size cigarettes, which have filters that are aseffective as filters on conventional cigarettes, but that areappropriately calibrated for the dimensions of the reduced-sizecigarettes.

A fifth still further object is to provide a cigarette pack thatcontains reduced-size cigarettes which can be added to any other brandline (as varieties such as 100s and lights currently are) or that canbecome a new, independent brand.

A final object is to provide a cigarette pack that contains reduced-sizecigarettes, which could cost less for consumers since they will bepurchasing less.

To accomplish the above objects and objects related to those objectsdescribed above, this invention may be embodied in the forms illustratedin the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are onlyillustrative; changes may be made in specific construction andmanufacturing to accomplish the objects, and related objects, and/or theuses, and related uses, set forth above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view comparing one reduced-size cigarette pack1A to a conventional-size cigarette pack 1B.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of areduced-size cigarette pack.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view comparing one reduced-size cigarette 3A toa conventional-size cigarette 3B.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of areduced-size cigarette.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second alternative embodiment of areduced-size cigarette pack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 respectively offer a schematic comparison of aconventional-size cigarette pack FIG. 1B to a reduced-size cigarettepack FIG. 1A and a conventional-size cigarette FIG. 3B to a reduced-sizecigarette FIG. 3A. The pack orientation in FIG. 1A depicts a rectangularpack with shorter sides 2 at the top and bottom. One alternativeembodiment is shown in FIG. 2. The pack in FIG. 2 is also rectangular;however, the longer sides 3 are at the top and bottom. FIG. 5 shows asecond alternative embodiment of a reduced-size cigarette pack. Thisembodiment is also rectangular, with longer sides 3 at the top andbottom; however, the flip-top lid 1 opens from the side of the packrather than the front, as is the case in FIG. 1, 1 and FIG. 2, 1. FIG.1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 show hard packs with flip-top lids 1; however,soft pack embodiments would be possible and would not depart from thespirit of this invention.

Each reduced-size cigarette pack in FIG. 1A, FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 containsa predetermined number of reduced-size cigarettes. FIG. 3A shows oneembodiment of a reduced-size cigarette, a cigarette that approximatesthe width of a conventional cigarette but that has reduced length. FIG.4 depicts an alternative embodiment, a reduced-size cigarette that isshorter than a conventional cigarette and not as wide as a conventionalcigarette. One reduced-size cigarette pack, FIG. 1A, FIG. 2, and FIG. 5contains a plurality of reduced-size cigarettes, FIG. 3A or FIG. 4. FIG.3A and FIG. 4 show filters 4 at the top of the cigarettes. Asrepresented in these drawings the length of the filters of thereduced-size cigarettes in FIG. 3A and FIG. 4 approximates the length ofthe filter of the conventional cigarette 3B; however, actual filterlength for any embodiment of reduced-size cigarettes will be thatnecessary to provide standard filter effectiveness for the dimensions ofthe reduced-sized cigarette.

There are numerous examples to illustrate the uses of reduced-sizecigarette packs containing reduced-size cigarettes in the context of asmoking risk reduction/reduction to quit/cessation process; thefollowing is only one possible scenario for the use of this invention. Apack-a-day smoker who decides to quit smoking and who believes thatcutting down is the most appropriate method could purchase areduced-size cigarette pack containing reduced-size cigarettes insteadof purchasing a pack of conventional cigarettes. When the smoker feelsthe urge to smoke, the smoker would, then, reach for a reduced-sizecigarette.

By doing so, the smoker would be able to smoke less per cigarette thanif the smoker had purchased a pack of conventional cigarettes. If theembodiment of the reduced-size cigarette was approximately half the sizeof a conventional cigarette, the smoker would reduce per-cigarette andper-pack consumption by approximately half. The smoker would cut downconsumption while still being able to smoke at usual times during theday. This is advantageous for a smoker in the process of reducing toquit since the smoker would not only reduce nicotine consumption overthe course of the day by smoking reduced-size cigarettes but would alsoget used to smoking less at each smoking time.

In addition, the smoker might experience less severe withdrawal symptomsby using this invention, which would deliver reduced amounts of nicotinemore often than would be the case if the smoker cut down to half a packof conventional cigarettes, which would deliver greater amounts ofnicotine less often. The smoker who purchases a conventional pack ofcigarettes and cuts down to smoking half a pack would have longerperiods of time in between cigarettes, a plan that might result in moresevere symptoms of withdrawal and that might lead the smoker to resume aprevious habit of smoking a pack a day as a way simply to avoidexperiencing them. Reduced-size cigarettes, which deliver a smalleramount of nicotine, when smoked at the smoker's usual intervals would bepreferable option for a smoker easily deterred from a reduction to quitplan for reasons related to withdrawal.

The form of the present invention also offers a means to modulateconsumption that is not offered by the form of conventional packs ofcigarettes. For instance, a smoker who purchases a reduced-sizecigarette pack containing reduced-size cigarettes can cut downconsumption by approximately half by smoking one pack of reduced-sizecigarettes. A smoker who intends to accomplish the same goal bypurchasing a conventional pack of cigarettes would be left with half apack at the end of the day. For a smoker experiencing withdrawal, thatremaining half a pack provides temptation that might be difficult toresist.

Over the course of the reduction to quit process, a smoker who purchasesreduced-size cigarette packs containing reduced-size cigarettes couldreach the goal of quitting more quickly than a smoker who purchasesconventional packs of cigarettes. The present invention would providethe smoker who used reduced-size cigarettes with a means to achievenicotine satisfaction by consuming less and less nicotine over time.Even in the case of relapses, this smoker could turn to reduced-sizecigarettes, which means that this smoker need not ever return toconsuming a pack of conventional cigarettes a day. Each attempt to quit,then, might be preceded by a period of relapse during which the smokerconsumes less than the smoker did during a previous relapse. For thesmoker who purchases reduced-size cigarette packs containingreduced-size cigarettes, even relapses can serve the purposes ofreduction to quit. Because this smoker can practice reduction throughoutthe reduction to quit process even during relapses, by not resuming ahabit of smoking a pack of conventional cigarettes a day, this smokercould eventually quit smoking quicker than a smoker who attempts toreduce to quit while smoking conventional cigarettes.

The smoker who has no option but to purchase conventional cigarettes andwho must cut down consumption by decreasing the number of conventionalcigarettes smoked each day would have more difficulty reducing to quit.In the event of relapses, this smoker might more likely resume aprevious habit, smoke a previous number of conventional cigarettes, and,therefore, return to a previous level of nicotine consumption. Duringthe relapse period, this smoker would experience a spike in nicotine,perhaps a spike to pre-reduction levels of nicotine, that wouldultimately make each reduction to quit episode equivalent to a firstattempt to quit smoking. Withdrawal symptoms for this smoker might bejust as severe each time the smoker embarks on a reduction to quit plan,an unfortunate result of a reduction to quit regimen using conventionalcigarettes that could extend the length of the reduction to quit processfor this smoker.

Each drawing provides an illustration that is intended to representnovel features of the present invention. The drawings depict relativedimensions, as opposed to actual dimensions of conventionalpack/cigarettes and reduced-size pack/cigarettes. The drawings do notdepict the true sizes of cigarette packs or cigarettes, or true sizes ofany parts of cigarette packs or cigarettes; they are sketches meant torender a comparison in the spirit of this invention. In addition, thesedrawings present only two possible ways to embody the present inventionand to affect the stated objects and the intended uses. The features ofthis invention have been shown in the drawings and the DetailedDescription of the Invention. These features have also been pointed toin the Specifications. It will be understood, therefore, that omissions,substitutions, and/or changes in the form, details, materials, relativesize, pack shape or orientation, and/or any other aspect of areduced-size cigarette pack that contains reduced-size cigarettes forthe above stated purposes can be made by those skilled in such workwithout departing from the spirit of this invention.

1. The present invention provides for:
 1. a reduced-size (by lengthand/or width) cigarette pack, and
 2. reduced-size (by length and/orwidth) cigarettes.